Burgundy, Provence & The Riviera

The tour starts at 12.00pm on Saturday 17 May, at Gare de Lyon train station, Paris.

The tour ends after breakfast on Sunday 1 June, followed by transfers to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport.

Meet your tour manager at 12.00pm in Paris’ Gare de Lyon train station to commence the tour. We then travel by TGV to Dijon, where we transfer to our hotel on arrival. After time to freshen up, we meet for drinks and introductions in our hotel bar, followed by a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Dijon (D)

The Dukes of Burgundy were among the most sophisticated, powerful, and wealthy men in medieval Europe. At its apotheosis, their territory was larger than the Kingdom of France – indeed, they appropriated large parts of France by playing the French and English off each other in the Hundred Years’ War. After an informative talk, we enjoy a morning walk of Dijon including a visit to the Romanesque crypt of Saint-Benigne cathedral and the church of Notre-Dame. In the afternoon we visit the Palace of the Dukes, home to Dijon’s Museum of Fine Art since the 18th century. The evening is at leisure. Overnight Dijon (B)

The transferal of relics and the pilgrims who swarmed to see them were key parts of the medieval economy. This morning we visit the town of Avallon to visit the superb pilgrim church of Saint Lazare to admire its outstanding Romanesque sculpture, a combination of piety and fantastical imagination. The afternoon is devoted to Vézelay Abbey and its important shrine to Mary Magdalene, who is thought to have ended her days in southern France. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the basilica is a masterpiece of Burgundian Romanesque. We then enjoy a wine tasting in a local vineyard. Evening is at leisure. Overnight Dijon (B, WT)

We spend the morning in Beaune, home to the Hôtel-Dieu and its beautifully preserved architecture. This medieval hospital contains Rogier van der Weyden’s Beaune altarpiece, the rich colours and intense emotions of its Last Judgement challenging European painters for many generations. At Notre-Dame, we admire 15th-century tapestries on the life of the Virgin. In the afternoon we travel to Autun, to admire the fine Romanesque sculpture of its St-Lazare Cathedral, among the world’s best. We then visit the Roman Gate of Porte Saint-André and the Roman amphitheatre before returning to Dijon. Evening at leisure. Overnight Dijon (B)

We depart Dijon for Lyon today, travelling to Cluny Abbey, which was the headquarters of the Benedictine order that dominated medieval pilgrim routes. It was also the world’s largest church until the expansion of St Peter’s in Rome and its architecture was enormously influential. We trace it from its magnificent remains to the intimate dimensions of the nearby 11th-century Chapelle des Moines at Berzé-la-Ville, perhaps the private retreat of the abbot. Evening at leisure. Overnight Lyon (B, L)

Lyon (Lugdunum) was the thriving capital of Roman Gaul and the birthplace of the emperors Claudius and Caracalla. This morning we embark on a walking tour through the streets of Old Lyon. In the afternoon we enjoy a guided visit of Lyon’s Roman ruins and the adjoining Gallo-Roman Museum, that has a fine collection of archaeological finds from the area, including jewellery, mosaics and everyday objects. A highlight will be our visit to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Basilica of Our Lady of Fourviere, before partaking in contemporary cuisine at a local fine dining institute. Overnight Lyon (B, D)

We begin the day by exploring Croix-Rousse, Lyon’s silk workers’ district, to learn about this colourful industry at La Maison des Canuts. After a break for lunch, we walk down to the city centre past the Roman Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls. We then take the metro to the Quartier des Etats Unis to tour the Urban Museum of the architect and urban planner Tony Garnier, with its many mural covered buildings. We return to the hotel for an early evening talk. This evening is at leisure. Overnight Lyon (B)

In pre-modern Europe, rivers were key to the development of cities, allowing easy movement of people and goods. Lyon boasted an excellent location between two rivers, the Saône and the Rhône – the latter one of Europe’s most important waterways for trade. As we transfer to Nîmes, we admire the tranquil scenery of the river and hills alongside it. We pause for lunch and wine-tasting in Tain-l’Hermitage before immersing ourselves in the world of good chocolate, at Valrhona’s Cité du Chocolat. Evening at leisure. Overnight Nîmes. (B, L, WT)

Nîmes, like Lyon, boasts outstanding Roman remains and this morning we explore the sites for which the town is justifiably renowned. The magnificent Roman temple Maison Carrée is considered the purest and best preserved of all Roman temples. Other impressive sites we visit include the amphitheatre and the Jardins de la Fontaine, the 18th-century parklands with the remains of a Roman tower and temple. In the afternoon we recommend visiting the Roman Museum or the Contemporary Art Museum at your own leisure. Overnight Nîmes (B)

Today we head to Arles, famed for an exceptional Roman and medieval heritage. Arles is one of the most important centres of Provençal culture, proud of its past yet vibrantly modern. We survey its ancient history at the amphitheatre and encounter its great modern admirer, Van Gogh, who produced many of his greatest works here. What he loved was not the culture or history, but the brilliance of light. After our guided visit of the Fondation Vincent van Gogh and St Trophime, which so inspired him, we return to Nîmes for an evening at leisure. Overnight Nîmes (B)

By the early 14th century, Rome was unsafe: prone to malaria and ruled by scheming feudal families angling for the papal throne. After a deadlocked conclave in 1305, the newly elected Frenchman Clement V refused to move to Rome, and a succession of seven popes ruled “in exile” from Avignon until 1377. This morning we visit the vast Palais des Papes and the Pont Saint-Bénezet, better known as the Pont d’Avignon – made famous by the song. After a group lunch in a local restaurant, we continue to the astonishing Pont du Gard, part of the highest of the elevated Roman aqueducts. It runs for 50 kilometres and here crosses the Gardon river. On return to our hotel, we enjoy another informative talk. Overnight Nîmes (B, L)

We depart for Antibes today, travelling via Aix-en-Provence. This elegant provincial centre owed its prominence to its thermal springs and was an important Roman site thanks to these health benefits. In the modern era it has been indelibly associated with Cézanne, who experimented with abstraction and tone here and was so inspired by nearby Mont-Sainte-Victoire. We enjoy a walking tour of central Aix, including a guided visit of Cézanne’s atelier. In the afternoon, we continue to Antibes, where we enjoy a stroll and dinner in a local restaurant after check-in. Overnight Antibes (B, D)

From the 19th century, artists flocked to the French Riviera for the qualities of its light and landscape, the economy of its lifestyle, and the relative permissiveness of its morals! This morning we encounter this exuberance in a walking tour of Old Antibes, the city’s historic quarter and a microcosm of great Mediterranean ports. After admiring Picasso’s bold and innovative artworks at the Musée Picassso we travel to the Musée Renoir, located in Renoir’s charming villa at nearby Cagnes-sur-Mer. This evening is at leisure in Antibes. Overnight Antibes (B)

On the heels of the great modern artists, the rich and famous, and eventually mass tourism, came to the Riviera. The stunning coastline, running from France into Italy, still preserves some of the 20th century’s most extraordinary pleasure villas, including the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a magnificent example of Neoclassic architecture. After admiring the villa and its gardens, we continue to seafront Villefranche-sur-Mer for lunch at leisure. Here, the tiny 16th-century Chapelle Saint-Pierre was neglected and filled with fishing nets when artist Jean Cocteau offered to restore it in 1957. With the help and support of the local community he decorated the chapel with murals celebrating the life of St Peter and dedicated to the local fishermen. We finish our day at the bold Matisse Museum in Nice before returning to Antibes for an evening at leisure. Overnight Antibes (B)

Today we make our way to the town of Vence. Here we visit the Chapelle du Rosaire, the simple chapel decorated by Henri Matisse for a convent of Dominican nuns in gratitude for kindness shown to him when ill. Afterwards we travel to the charming village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence that has been a mecca for artists since the 20th century and where we visit the Fondation Maeght, an exceptional museum of modern art set in beautifully landscaped gardens. The museum displays artworks by Calder, Chagall, Braque, Giacometti and Miró. Returning to Antibes, we enjoy a farewell dinner together in a fine local restaurant. Overnight Antibes (B, D)

Our tour concludes after breakfast. Individual transfers to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport will be arranged for onward flights. (B)

These premiere 4-star hotels have been selected principally for their central location.

• Dijon, Hostellerie Chapeau Rouge (4 nights)

• Lyon, Hotel Beaux Arts (3 nights)

• Nîmes, Appart’City Collection Nîmes Arènes (4 nights)

• Antibes, Royal Antibes Hotel (4 nights)